Smashing

Posted by Victoria S Dennis on July 14, 2008 at 21:23

In Reply to: Smashing posted by Wayne R. McKinney on July 14, 2008 at 19:48:

: I have just discovered the site, and it is wonderful. In archive one a poster says that 'smashing' comes from Irish. Considering the differences between the Gailige and the Gaidhlig pronunciation of 'thats good,' and the percentage of Scots, both highlanders and lowlanders who have served/serve in the English military, I would say that 's math sin' wins as the source of 'smashing' hands down. (to use a phrase :) ) Wayne R. McKinney Suas leis a' Gaidhlig!

Sorry, no. Ever since the 18th century a "smasher" has been English slang for anything specially large or excellent (i.e. something that smashes all rivals). In the 1910s the Bright Young Things started to use the adjective "smashing" in the same sense, on the pattern of a range of similar terms of approval fashionable at the time, e.g. "ripping", "topping", and the like. (VSD)